Construction facing the challenges of climate change
Heatwaves, storms, floods – all over the world, climate change is causing increasingly intense and frequent weather events. The consequences are huge for the planet and its inhabitants, and also for our buildings! So, how can we take climate risk into account when building or renovating?
The impact of climate change is now a key factor in building the world of tomorrow. Urban planning, choice of materials, greening, and other solutions to increase the climate resilience of buildings are now at the heart of discussions in the construction industry.
Coping with extreme temperatures
August 2023, 2024, and 2025 were the hottest months ever recorded globally. In recent years, the world has been facing rising temperatures that underscore the urgency of adapting so that buildings remain safe and comfortable living spaces. Even better, with the right portfolio of solutions, they can become tools for building resilient cities and combating the effects of global warming.
Schools in the face of climate change
Providing effective protection from heat while limiting the use of air conditioning and polluting cooling systems is one of the challenges facing the construction industry today. A natural solution to this problem lies in insulating building envelopes and glazing, effective tools for dealing with extreme outdoor temperatures. Double glazing and dynamic glazing, which can darken in response to sunlight, help keep buildings cool while providing a protective barrier from the sun. For example, SageGlass, an electrochromic glazing solution that darkens on demand to limit glare and regulate temperature, offers both solutions.
Available on the market since 2023, the ECLAZ® range includes three types of glazing with complementary features. Depending on the model, it can reduce the peak heating period or provide protection against the cold, while promoting natural light and hence user comfort. ECLAZ® SUN glass, in particular, blocks 62% more solar radiation than conventional glazing.
It’s not just glazing that can play a role. Façade cladding also comes into the equation. If it is light in color and reflective, it prevents heat from building up. Greened façades are also a possible option, combining several solutions in one.
Facing climate disasters
According to the UN, the number of natural disasters worldwide has increased fivefold over the past 50 years. Storms and hurricanes are now spreading across increasingly large areas, forcing entire populations to adapt new buildings and renovate old ones to make them more resistant.
As a result, particular attention is now paid to the choice of materials. In some parts of the world, such as the Norwegian coastline, cladding with reinforced metal fastenings, combined with a wall, insulation, and an air gap, is already standard practice in order to better withstand the wind.
Adapting infrastructure to the climate has become vital
It is with this same perspective in mind that CertainTeed developed impact-resistant asphalt shingle, with a view to producing ultra-resistant roofs. Designed with a fiberglass backing and tested to withstand very strong impact, this shingle forms a barrier against hail while offering resistance to updrafts, crosswinds, and other extreme weather conditions. They are particularly widely used in the United States, in storm-prone regions such as the Midwest and mountainous areas.
Here too, façade cladding also has a role to play. Weber’s aquabalance 2.0 solution, for example, combats damp without the use of biocides.
While the scale of climate change requires new building standards, it also calls for serious consideration of retrofitting. Solutions such as double/triple glazing, protective coatings and cladding are easy to install. Insulation and thermal comfort can also be optimized at a reasonable cost through use of off-site construction. But perhaps an even broader view is needed. Rather than thinking about individual buildings, we now need to start rethinking entire cities to make them more energy-efficient and sustainable.